Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 174, 13 October 1927, Page 11

Speed-Cycling on Road and Track

By

“VELOS.”

WILLIE MACK IE RETURNS Willie Mackie, quarter and threemile 1926-27 New Zealand cycling champion, returned from a trip to America by the Aorangi on Monday. In conversation with “Velos” he stated that he had had a good trip. He wanted to see America, with its New York skyscrapers and particularly its bicycle tracks, its racing, both paced and unpaced; and having seen all these, he says, “New Zealand will do me.” Mackie says the crowds are big at all meetings, the majority of which are held under electric lights. The prize money is nothing startling compared with the gates the promoters get. The “top-notch” rider is a well-paid one, but the middle-class have to keep busy to make both ends meet. The racing is kept strictly clean and the referees in every case are old, experienced track champions. Evidently the promoters believe in the old saying, “Set a thief to catch a thief.” Mackie left for Wellington on Monday night, en route to his home in Christchurch. He has a good offer to go to Melbourne to go behind the rollers this season, and its on the cards he will accept it. RACING AT MANGERE The Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club’s 14-mile race at Mangere on Saturday proved a very interesting one. The possibility of five riders starting off scratch lent additional interest to the event, but unfortunately only two scratch riders—White and Sutherland —faced the starter. There was a large crowd of enthusiasts present to watch the race, which turned out to be a very. good one. J. Dean, B£min., was the first rider away. He immediately settled down to a good solid grind. This he never altered during the whole distance, and breasting the top of Mangere Hill alone, he ran home an easy winner by 2.00 yards, his first win this season. The race for second place was a {scramble by six riders, the judges having difficulty in making thvs placings. J. Blyth, 4min., was placed second, a wheel in front of W. Francis, 4min., who was a similar distance ahead of F. Lowndes, 4min.

The time, considering the strong wind blowing, was fair. J. Dean, the winner of Saturday’s race, was warmly congratulated on his fine unpaced performance. He is one of the veteran riders of the A.A. and C.C. Every Saturday sees him a starter in his club’s races, and barring a second in a consolation race a few weeks back, this is his only success this season. The second, third and fourth riders to finish, Blythe, Francis and Lowndes, all off the 4min. mark, finished in a heap. They looked like winning three miles from the finish, being within sight of the winner, but no one would attempt to breach the gap, so they had to be content to race for second place Francis was responsible for some good laps in this bunch. When in front he

certainly did his work well. Blythe finished well, getting up in time to get the verdict by a narrow margin. The fastest time for Saturday’s race (36m.iri. 37sec.) was won by A. White (scr.), who beat A. Sutherland (scr.). This was White’s 11th fastest time this season. As the club has allowed a

“fastest time” to count two points in the season’s competition for the Pardington Cup, it is difficult to see how any but a scratch rider could hope to win it.

Next Saturday’s cash race is a 14mile open handicap event. If the handicapper is still in the same mood there will be five of Auckland’s best riders starting off the scratch mark. This bunch will keep any limit men busy keeping away from them, providing they all do their share of pacing honestly. It looks like being one of the best races held by the club this season. THE COTTER CUP The Cotter Challenge Cup will be competed for next Saturday at Mangere by members of the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club. This fine trophy was presented to the club by Mr. E. W. Cotter, a vice-president, for a 17mile open road race, for M.A.C.C. members only. Five conditions attached to the cup are that before becoming the absolute property of any rider, it shall be won twice in succession or three times at intervals. The Manukau Club will present the winner with a miniature of the trophy. A record entry has been received for this race, which promises to be a particularly good one. L. G. Chambers, last year’s winner of the Cotter Cup, will not be a competitor in aSturday’s race, owing to illness. This is particularly unfortunate for Chambers, as he had only to win the race this year to make the cup his own property.

In both amateur races on Saturday there were runaway victories. The 11mile open csvent was won by H. Russell, 3min. 45.5, by 300 yards. He rode a. remarkable unpaced race, actually gaining on the front and middle divisions over the last lap. He has evidently found his best form, and will be hard again in Saturday’s Cup race. GRAMMAR SCHOOL’S RACE

The Auckland Grammar School Old Boys are holding a three-mile cycle race on the Outer Domain on Friday, evening, October 21. Entries will be received by the sports secretary, Auckland Grammar School, Mountain Road. The race promises to be a success, as already several prominent old boy cyclists have signified theiir intention of competing. New figures have been established for the 11 miles at Mangere.

On Saturday M. P. Byrnes lowered the record by 19 4-ss.ee. Starting off the scratch mark with J. H. Wade, these two simply sprinted till they caught iH. Dwight and L. Wilson. Dwight gave them great assistance for two and a-half miles ahd then retired, Wilson doing likewise, as the pace was too hot for them. Over the last lap the back bunch looked out of the prize money as they had over two minutes to make up. This proved to be so, as they finished nearly half a mile behind the winner. Byrnes and Wade fought but a great finish. Three hundred yards from the finish it was either rider’s race, but 50 yards from the line Byrnes got; down to it; and beat Wade by half a length. Byrnes is riding exceptionality well at present. The junior event of five and a-half miles was another runaway victory for E. Hall, who started on the limit* 4min., mark. He was having, his . first start in a road race, and he. signaliised it in a sensational- manner by wnning by nearly 300 yards. Making use of W. Johnson on the same mark as long as he coUld, he left him and going on his own won in hollow, fashion. His {finishing sprint over the last 150 yards was. a feature of the afternoon’s racing.

R. Foubister, who finished second, put up a good performance. Starting oft! 30see. he made every post a winning one. First picking up middle, then the front bunches, he ran through all the field with the exception of the winner. He also won fastest time besides getting second place.

PALMERSTON TO WELLINGTON The Palmerston North-Wellington Dunlop great amateur road race was decided last Saturday, and was won by T G. Lukey, Christchurch, from scratch in the good time of shr 39min 42 l-ssec. Lukey lost his two comarkers, F. Grosse, Christchurch, and J. Carswell, Wellington, through punctures. Ha rode a great race, and Is a worthy representative to send to Australia next month .to compete in the Colac-Melbourne big classic. HANDICAPS FOR SATURDAY The following are the handicaps for Saturday s races: 17-Mile Cotter Challenge Cup.—M. P. Byrnes, J. H. Wade, scr.; J. C. Stewart, RaSi Dwight, lmin; A. G. Band. C. J. Gainsborough, H. G. Browne, £** Chambers, 2min; J. H. L. Devlin. L. Wilson,, H. MoElroy, W. Dwight, K. J. Matheson, K. Rowe, J. Whitten, 2Smin; Sio + T° U A bl£!^ r * s - Lichfield, R. Capp, P. A a S A rCo^ be ’ C * L - Russell, 2min 45sec; A. C. Clarke, E. M. Taylor, N. Fisher, G. Rose, "W. Rowe, V. Baker. T. faithful 3min; D. Hope, A. Davies, T* F - Grogan, H. Borland, A. C. Stem, 3min 15sec; R. E. Wright. F. Bowman, W. Tomlinson, D. Ching, H. .Russell, 3min 45sec; P. G. Addison, H. J. McLaren, J. Wakefield, W. McCallum, F Potter, 4min; E. Ormond, W. Borland, F. Harvey, G. W. RollerSlpragg, I. Gear, 4min 30sec; H. V. Hamilton, D. O’Connell, W. Grogan, D. Anderson, L. Pinfold, 4min 45sec; R. t 1 ir ]E K W^ tson ’ G- You ng, D- H. Mabbs, J. Welsh, F. G. Hughes, smin; N. Jenkins, H. Freeman, C. Culpan, W. Welsh, omin 15sec; D. Bleakley, F. White, G. Reid, C. Manson, B. Gardiner. smin 45 sec; G M. Kelly, W. Clark, L. Welsh, 6mm 15sec. A club run to Helensville will be held next Saturday, leaving Ponsonby Reservoir at (5 a.m. Auckland Athletic and Cycling Club’s 14-Mile Event.—White, Sutherland!, Prior, Hayes, Henderson, scr.; Storey, Brennan, J. Mathieson, Hill, lmin 30sec; H. Pelham, W. Mathieson, Rae, Healey, Blyth, Francis, 3min 30sec; Stansfield, Rickman, Lowndes, Dufty, 4min; Reid, Davis, Rothwell, Bryce, A. Matthews, Archer, 6m in; L. Matthews, Dean, Rhodes, Bmm. Cyclists will • regret to hear that Mrs. George Horder, mother of Harris Herder, who raced in Auckland at the opening of Blandford Park, died recently from heart failure, following a serious illness. Mrs. Horder met with an accident two years ago in Melbourne, and never properly got over it, having lost her speech. A pleasing personality, and a keen follower of cycling, the deepest sympathy of all cyclists i:s extended to George Hcrrder and family in their sad loss.